These Prune Cherry Chocolate Walnut Tahini Bars have it all. The dense and cushy bite dotted with chewy prunes, tart cherries, crunchy walnuts and rich chocolate is an act of flavor and texture balance. The bitterness of the tahini is kissed with a honey sweetness, complemented by the molasses depth of the prunes, tangy zing of the cherries and smooth cocoa notes of the melted chocolate pools. Walnuts add a gentle, nutty crunch while a sprinkle of sea salt flakes subtly enhances the play between the other ingredients. Life and dessert in balance.
Cherry Bombe Jubilee & California Prunes sparked this Prune Cherry Chocolate Walnut Tahini Bars recipe
My 5th time attending Cherry Bombe Jubilee was the inspiration for this Prune Cherry Chocolate Walnut Tahini Bars recipe. I had the honor of attending with my pals from California Prunes again this year. Both the CA Prunes and Cherry Bombe teams, once again, outdid themselves. And not to toot my own horn but, toot toot, these delightfully elegant Chocolate Prune Cherry Bombs that were born out of the 2025 Jubilee are the bomb.
At Jubilee 2026, CA Prunes gave a warm welcome with a plush purple carpet walk to showcase all of the high food fashions. We were immediately showered with prune themed goodies, including a sick Purple Rain style tour tee shirt, see below, listing off the California cities where prunes are grown on the back. I have been wearing it almost daily since and I believe Prince himself would have rocked this tee too, with diamonds and pearls, naturally!
with Toni Tipton-Martin & Nina Williams-Mbengue (Chef Edna's niece).
The Cherry Bombe Jubilee is a conference that takes place every spring in NYC. This lively event celebrates women in the food and beverage space. The spirits and the fashions are unmatched. The food is obviously fabulous, the energy is all the way up and every speaker who takes the stage shares an inspiring dish seasoned with knowledge, experience, heart and grit. This year, I laughed, I cried and was moved by the brilliance and powerful drive behind each of the women on stage, in the crowd and behind the scenes.
Watch a recap of the Cherry Bombe Jubilee on my IG.
Jubilee is my favorite event of the year because I feel authentically at ease when surrounded by women who get me and this industry. Everyone is genuinely there to lift and be lifted by one another. The support system is strong, vibrant and as real as it gets. All community, no competition. Plus, the day ignited the idea for this new recipe for Prune Cherry Chocolate Walnut Tahini Bars. A celebration in and of itself!
California Prunes add flavor & health benefits
I swear you can taste the warmth of the sun in the California grown prunes. The deep, molasses-like notes of the plush and tender California Prunes are the perfect match for the bitterness of the tahini in these Prune Cherry Chocolate Walnut Tahini Bars. Prunes add a welcome, natural sweetness and silky texture to each bite. They are nutrient dense and packed with health benefits. Plus, prunes are one of those natural sweeteners that don't send your blood sugar spiking.
Stay healthy with California Prunes
- Keep it regular - We all know prunes promote regularity but they also positively impact gut bacteria for a healthy microbiome.
- Nutrient dense - Prunes contain loads of essential vitamins and minerals like vitamins K, & B6 and potassium. And they are rich with antioxidants.
- Stay strong - In addtion, prunes aid in bone health thanks to the boron, potassium and vitamin K.
I'm not saying these Prune Cherry Chocolate Walnut Tahini Bars are a health bar. But, any opportunity to throw in some extra nutrients makes sense to me. The walnuts, tart cherries and tahini also bring along some beneficially health bonuses too. We'll take it anywhere we can get it!
More Prune recipes from Baking The Goods
Ingredients for Prune Cherry Chocolate Walnut Tahini Bars
At the base, the Prune Cherry Chocolate Walnut Tahini Bars are basic cookie bars but it's the mix-ins that jazz them up and make them so unique. Because these bars are loaded with tahini, dried fruits, nuts and chocolate, they have a whole lot of personality in every bite. Here is what you'll need to bake a batch of soft and chewy tahini bars.
- all purpose flour
- fine sea salt
- baking soda
- unsalted butter, at room temperature
- brown sugar
- granulated sugar
- tahini
- honey
- eggs
- vanilla extract
- California prunes
- dried tart cherries
- walnuts
- dark chocolate, roughly chopped or chocolate chips
- flaky sea salt, optional - to finish
How to make Prune Cherry Chocolate Walnut Tahini Bars
One of the best things about cookie bars is how quick and easy they are to make. You don't even need to snoop around for your cookie scoop. Simply whisk the dry ingredients together. Then cream the butter and sugars, followed by the tahini and honey. Blend in the eggs and vanilla. Stir in the dry ingredients and follow it up with the mix-ins.
Mix the dough together
Press, top, bake, sprinkle & slice
Press the dough evenly into parchment paper lined pan, top with some the remaining prunes, cherries, walnuts and chocolate for a little visual flair and crunchy texture. Then bake for about 30 minutes. Right when the bars come out of the oven, while the chocolate is still warm and gooey, sprinkle on some flaky sea salt to add flavor enhancing magic. Once the bars have cooled, slice into a 4x5 grid for 20 flavor filled dream bars.
Sometimes all we want is a simple, snappy shortbread cookie. But there are moments when we seek abundance and variety in every bite. These bars have squidgy centers, crisp edges and loads of mixins, delivering on all of your textural cravings in a single bar.
After that trip to NYC where there is endless access to everything at any given moment, it's easy to understand why I wanted to pack it all into these Prune Cherry Chocolate Walnut Tahini Bars! New York City in the springtime is such a sensory treat. I'm so grateful that I was able to visit again and soak in the inspiration with every sense. It's only natural that I found these fun vintage and vintage inspired plates after stumbling into Fishs Eddy, my new favorite store in New York.
Colorful spring blooms and big, bright, flashy lights. Lilac scented walks along the High Line and savory wafts from the halal carts and hot dog stands. The big city sounds at all hours and even some sweet songbirds in the early morning light. So many magnificent meals, chewy bagels, crumbly cookies, the creamiest dreamiest tahini soft serve and late night street slices. I felt it all with my all. But especially in my legs after averaging 10-12 miles a day of walking for 4 days in a row. I ❤️ NY and can't wait to go back again soon! Next time I will be sure to pack plenty of Prune Cherry Chocolate Walnut Tahini Bars for snacking. Hope to see you there!
A great big thank you to my partners and pals California Prunes for including me in the Cherry Bombe Jubilee. And for making this post possible. Learn more about the health benefits of prunes and find prune inspired recipes at californiaprunes.com & follow them on Instagram @caprunes.
Recipe
Prune Cherry Chocolate Walnut Tahini Bars
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 20 bars
Description
These Prune Cherry Chocolate Walnut Tahini Bars have it all. A dense and cushy bite dotted with chewy prunes, tart cherries, crunchy walnuts and rich chocolate. The bitterness of the tahini is kissed with a honey sweetness, complemented by the molasses depth of the prunes, tangy zing of the cherries and smooth cocoa notes of the melted chocolate pools. Walnuts add a gentle, nutty crunch while a sprinkle of sea salt flakes subtly enhances the play between the other ingredients.
Ingredients
2 ½ cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
¾ cup light brown sugar, packed
¼ cup granulated sugar
¾ cup tahini
¼ cup honey
2 large eggs, room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
¾ cup California prunes, roughly chopped
¾ cup dried tart cherries
¾ cup walnuts, roughly chopped
¾ cup dark chocolate, roughly chopped or chocolate chips
flaky sea salt, optional - to finish
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350° F and line an 9x13 cake pan with parchment paper.
Combine the flour, baking soda and salt together in a bowl and whisk to combine.
Using a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, blend together the butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. Be sure to scrape the sides of the bowl down a couple of times with a spatula.
Add the tahini and honey, then cream together for about a minute, scrape the sides of the bowl down again.
Crack the eggs into a liquid measuring cup and add the vanilla. Slowly add to the sugar mixture and blend until fully incorporated. Scrape the sides of the bowl down.
With the mixer on a low speed, gradually add the dry ingredients. Once fully mixed, be sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl and blend until the dough is cohesive and well mixed.
Stir in the chopped prunes, cherries, walnuts and chocolate until evenly distributed. Reserve a small handful of each to press into the top just before baking for a texturally pleasing presentation.
Transfer the dough into the prepared pan and gently press it evenly into the pan. Top with remaining mix-ins.
Place the pan in the oven and bake until the cookie is golden brown around the edges and the center is set, about 30-35 minutes, rotating halfway through baking.
Sprinkle with sea salt flakes, to taste. Then allow to cool for about 30-63 minutes before diving in. Slice into a 4x5 grid for 20 bars and enjoy to the max.
Notes
These Prune Cherry Chocolate Walnut Tahini Bars will last up 5 when stored at room temperature and wrapped.
Tahini can be substituted with other nut or seed butters such as peanut butter, almond butter or sesame seed butter.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
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